Thursday, April 12, 2007

Bed - Body - Peace

Dan got a new bed today! His previous bed seemed a bit short for his 6'1" frame. The air that flowed through the special air mattress also seemed to be warm, too warm for Dan's fluctuating body temperature. This new one keeps his back straight, and he can sit up better.

His white cell count has been on a gradual rise over the past week, possibly the reason for his temperature spikes. X-rays were taken today to see if there is any infection with his lower back sore. [from being on a back board all day during the Puebla - Chicago transfer]

Sleep has been better the past few nights, but the additional sleep/anxiety medications have affected his alertness during daytime therapy, as many as 5 per day. Dan still gets the feelings of anxiety, which he describes as a wave or feeling that overtakes him for a few hours, has no particular thought or mind set, and leaves just as quickly as it came.
  • Pray for the doctors to have wisdom in addressing the ongoing issue.
  • Pray for Dan's spirit to be protected from fear.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, Dan, I'm praying for you! All the time, honestly! One of my friends had a fever tonight... and it reminded me to pray for you! (her too, of course...) Don't be discouraged, brother!
I'm also praying for the whole Knudsen family as you are struggling to "keep up" with life in other areas, I'm sure. Delight in the fact that though you may feel weak and weary, it's not your strength that matters, but your dependence on God and His strength!
Steve Saint, the son of martyred missionary Nate Saint, spoke in chapel today and said that he could trust God to write the story of his life. Even in the hard chapters (like the death of his dad and later, his daughter), he could rest assured that in the final chapter of the story, everything would make sense.
As I'm sure people have already posted:
"It will be worth it all,
When we see Jesus
Life's trials will seem so small, When we see Christ
One glimpse of His dear face,
All sorrows will erase,
So bravely run the race
Till we see Christ!"

~Your praying sister, Hope

Papá to the best 2 said...

Sweet to hear about the bed! That old one was definitely too short. Praying for you so many times every day. Keep remembering that only Christ can provide lasting peace and comfort as well as take away fear.

Anonymous said...

Dan, I would like to write the rest of the words to that Hymn that Hope just quoted. Treasure them in your heart for they are a blessed promise that we have to look forward to. Oh, our dear Jesus Christ is truly our hope, our comfort, our reason for living close to Him.

When We See Christ

Oft times the day seems long, our trials hard to bear,
We're tempted to complain, to murmur and despair;
But Christ will soon appear to catch His Bride away,
All tears forever over in God's eternal day.

Refrain
It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One gliimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

Sometimes the sky looks dark with not a ray of light,
We're tossed and driven on , no human help in sight;
But there is one in heav'n who knows our deepest care,
Let Jesus solve your problem - just go to Him in pray'r.


Refrain
It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One gliimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

Life's day will soon be o'er, all storms forever past,
We'll cross the great divide, to glory, safe at last;
We'll share the joys of heav'n - a harp, a home, a crown,
The tempter will be banished, we'll lay our burden down.


Refrain
It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One gliimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so ealily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finished of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the croos, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

I love you Dan, Deb, Bill, Mike, Matt&Em, Jen&Jeff. God bless you richly as you look to Him for His comfort and joy. Love Gramma

Your big sister said...

I'm comin Dan, I'm comin! And I'm bringing Harry Potter and we're gonna play that SET game you promised me and we're gonna have our first sleep-over! YAAAAY!!!!

Anonymous said...

HI Dan I just want to let you know that you are thought of and prayed for many times each day. May the Grace of our Lord and Saviour keep you in His perfect peace. You are having a great influence on my life. I am 58 and have been a Christian since I was very young but your trial is changing me in ways that nothing alse has. Love a sister in Christ.

Anonymous said...

Dear Knudsens,
The Lord brought this to me in my reading this morning.

"I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet, this I call to mind and therefore i have hope:

Because of the Lord's great love we are NOT consumed, for His compassions NEVER fail. They are new every morning; great is YOUR faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." Lamentations 3:19-24

We are never ceasing praying for you all.

Anonymous said...

Still praying in Northern Ohio...one of the other people wrote about God writing the story of our lives. God is still using you...don't think you have been set aside. This chaper of your life is going out to most of the world. You are impacting our world for God's Glory, THANKS!!

Blessed Mommy said...

praying, praying, praying. every night as i lay in bed, ready to sleep, i am lifting you and your sleep up to the LORD!! Love you!!

Anonymous said...

Keep hanging in there! Even though we won't understand it all, He is working out all things for good! Job had to suffer so much and he was an upright man! I bet he didn't even realize that his story would be in the Bible for all the world to see. God had a BIGGER plan unbeknownst to Job. What must He have in store for you! I bet you sometimes wonder "WHY ME" and why couldn't God have done it another way. I wonder if you wish you wouldn't have done that flip, wish you could go back to those hrs. beforehand. But God uses all things for His glory and you and your story is being used in a mighty way! God bless you all for the endurance you have to have in this. God has chosen you and the family to handle this (even though you may not think you can some days) because He knows you can do it! With God, all things are possible.

Continued thoughts and prayers from Seattle.

Anonymous said...

P.S. from Seattle. Remember Joni Erickson Tada and that dive she took years ago. Her ministry would not be if it weren't for that final dive. All these things are bittersweet.

Anonymous said...

Dan,
We are praying for God's perfect peace to take hold of your thoughts when the anxiety comes along. You and your family are so thoughtful to share with us as we wonder daily how you are doing. Thank you for the updates. They keep us connected with such open dialog that inspire us in a closer walk for sure. We see Jesus in you! I get much comfort from the chorus of this song and I hope that it will speak to you through the days to come.

In Christ Alone Brian Littrell lyrics

In Christ alone
I place my trust
And find my glory in the power of the cross
In every victory
Let it be said of me
My source of strength
My source of hope
Is Christ alone

PS if you could imagine a middle age, short haired nurse singing this to you with streaks of wisdom in my crown :-) that would be me, and wishing I could be closer to offer any assistance that I could...so I hope that the nurses and staff are being good to you.
With love our and prayers,
Anna G.Hayes' Mom "Ginnie" from CU

Anonymous said...

Dan,
Our prayers are with you. God loves you and knows your needs - He will provide.
In Christ,
The Eichmann's

Anonymous said...

Hey Everyone. Sorry I haven't sent a blog comment earlier. I just figured out that the e-mails my Mom had been sending me went to my Bulk. But, I am praying for you, as is my school. We have Daily Prayers in the morning, and I mention Dans' name frequently. I hope that things are getting easier and better. I continue to pray. God Bless. Love, Rebecca Toulmin

Sue B. said...

Know that we are praying for all of you. You must get a copy of Pastor Stowell's final message on being a friend of God. He spoke about being "true friends of God prove through how they live that they desire Him more than any promise, possession or pleasure!" It was so convicting to all of us. God's tests can be tough, but they respond with unflinching resolve! That is what all of you are doing. Praise God! Keep on keepin on! We love you. Jim & Sue B.

Amanda Martin said...

I shared your story with several groups at my church this week, Dan. At least 20 more people have joined me in praying for you, brother! Keep your spirits up! He is able!

~Amanda
Praying- 4:09pm

Anonymous said...

We recently learned about Dan's situation from our neice, Brittany Herbst, who was there at the time of the accident. We just wanted to let you know that our entire family is lifting Dan and his family up to our "Great Physician", as only He can provide strength, courage, wisdom and healing. May God reveal himself to you daily, even in the smallest of things. The Klines from Akron

Anonymous said...

hey, Scratch...glad to hear the new bed is working out well. i just read that JD got a new bed yesterday. i guess i am just reminded not to take for granted the unique ways God is taking care of our two brothers from CU. hang in there, man...
wammer
psalm 34:4 "i sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears."

Anonymous said...

Hey Scratch...

Just wanted to remind you that your OPE brothers love you, miss you and are definitely praying for you. And dont worry about Mike, we are taking good care of him. :)

Love you brother!
Swaddle

Anonymous said...

Dear Dan,
(and Bill, Deb, Mike, Jen,Jeff, Matt, Emily and baby girls)
I have been following your progress on this difficult journey since you arrived back in Chicago, rejoicing and weeping with you, and praying. Having just listened to Pastor James' Easter Sermon, may God accomplish His purposes in your life and may you rest in the confidence of His perfect love. Continuing to pray for sleep and comfort and peace of mind and healing.
Linda Kelleher

a said...

danny bro! wassup man... ben schmanke here. so i hope you heard that kim, mike, and i were gonna visit you right before that mumps thing (which totally stinked!), but dont worry, i know you miss me, but definitely not as much as i am missing you. i will for sure visit you as soon as i can when school is out (real soon), and i cant wait. :) as another faithful praying "sibling" to ya, i think about you almost every day. closing with the good 'ol Piper, "we bank our faith and hope on Him for the future..., because we look back and see His amazing blessings and all of it in view of the cross"
Soli Deo Gloria

Anonymous said...

Dan, I am reading in I Peter today and want to share these precious verses with you. "1 Peter 1:3-9

3 Blessed (be) the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

5 who by the power of God are guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 Wherein Ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, Ye have been put to grief in manifold trials,

7 that the proof of your faith, (being) more precious than gold that perisheth though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ:

8 whom not having seen Ye love; on whom, though now Ye see him not, yet believing, Ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

9 receiving the end of your faith, (even) the salvation of (your) souls.
ASV

Rest well today and keep up those exercises. Love Gramma

Anonymous said...

Dan, Deb, and Bill-
After reading your blog update, I went to one of my favorite books I use to pray for my kids, others children, and sometimes myself. This is the prayer I prayed for Dan from the book The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian:
"Lord, Your Word says, "I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears" (Psalm 34:4). I seek You this day, believing that You hear me, and pray that You will deliver Dan from any fear that threatens to overtake him. You said You have "not given us a sprit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7) Flood him with Your love and wash away all fear and doubt. Give him a sense of Your loving presence that far outweighs any fear that would threaten to overtake him. Help him to rely on Your power in such a manner that it establishes strong confidence and faith in You. Give him a mind so sound that he can recognize any false evidence the devil presents to him and identify it as having no basis in reality.
Wherever there is real danger or good reason to fear, give him wisdom, protect him, and draw him close to You. Help him not to deny his fears, but take them to You in prayer and seek deliverance from them. I pray that as he draws close to You, Your love will penetrate his life and crowd out all fear. Plant Your Word in his heart. Let faith take root in his mind and soul as he grows in Your Word.
Thank You, Lord, for Your promise to deliver us from all our fears. In Jesus' name I pray for freedom from fear on behalf of Dan this day."

Thanks for bearing with me through that.
Beth Harnish